Real Thaw 2019: Building skills at Beja

Exercise Report: Real Thaw 2019

Jorge Ruivo reports from the 11th iteration of Real Thaw, which featured 21 aircraft and 600 personnel, including elements from the Portuguese Air Force, as well as the army, navy and foreign nations.

Portuguese Air Force F-16AM 15131 (M17-15/61-621, FMS 83-1068) recovers to Beja after an air defence mission. The FAP ‘Vipers’ are pooled between Monte Real’s Esquadra 201 and 301.

An annual military training exercise, Real Thaw is planned, organised and executed by the Força Aérea Portuguesa (FAP, Portuguese Air Force) to prepare its operational units for missions within the framework of international co-operation at both NATO and European Union levels. Centred on Base Aérea (BA, Air Base) 11 in Beja, this year’s activities were mostly carried out in central Portugal between September 22 and October 4.

The ma

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